Latest from Human Science

What it's really like to be colourblind

A series of gifs reveals what the world looks like for people who are colourblind.

'Sixth sense' tied to gaze perception

We've all had that feeling that somebody is watching us - even if we're not looking directly at their eyes.

Mummy shot from behind with arrow

Scientists reveal how 5300-year-old corpse met his end - and that the 'iceman' called Otzi had 61 tattoos.

What makes a good idea?

Greg Bruce goes to university to learn how ideas are made.

Strange but true: 'ghost snake' discovered

Scientists have discovered something strange deep in the jungle of Madagascar: the "ghost snake".

Brain detectives: 10 amazing Kiwi insights

As investigators share their latest breakthroughs at Brain Research NZ's annual conference, Jamie Morton took a close look at 10 new Kiwi-led advances.

Monsters key to building bold kids

Can tales of fantasy provide real, useful coping mechanisms to kids muddling through difficult times?

Scientists reveal effects of meditation

Scientists who trekked to the Mount Everest region of Nepal last May have discovered the amazing effects meditation has on brain activity.

Is this the cure for asthma?

A cure for asthma is on the horizon after scientists discovered a genetic switch which prevents the condition.

Twelve Questions with Susan Morton

Growing Up in New Zealand study director Susan Morton is tracking the development of almost 7000 children born seven years ago in the Upper North Island.

Babies do sleep better if you leave them to cry

It's a dilemma faced by many new parents: do they get up in the night to comfort their crying babies - or let them sob themselves to sleep?

Human embryos kept alive in lab for unprecedented 13 days

UK law bans labs from growing embryos for longer than 14 days as after two weeks, it is deemed that an individual has started to develop.

Pushing athletes to the edge

Intense training amid 35C heat and 80 per cent humidity may sound like hell to most of us, but to elite athletes it could mean all the difference in making it to the podium.

'Did I really ride a unicorn to work?'

Being almost too exhausted to write this very article about tiredness is painfully ironic, writes new dad Jamie Morton.

Why do humans cry?

The shedding of emotional tears is unique to humans, but our evolutionary, psychological and biological reasons for "crying it out" remain a mystery.

David Dunning: Take care when filling your brain

COMMENT: The internet contains a vast store of information which is much bigger than any individual brain can carry - and that's not always a good thing.

The science behind having a good cry

The shedding of emotional tears is unique to humans, but our evolutionary, psychological and biological reasons for "crying it out" remain a mystery.

Kath McPherson: Think outside the box to support risky research

COMMENT: We believe that random funding is a fair and transparent way to choose between equally qualified applicants, writes Kath McPherson.